ARCHIVED - Please do not panic buy say Murcian supermarkets; there are no supply problems or shortages

There are more than 800 supermarkets in the 45 municipalities of the Murcia Region

The latest information regarding the number of coronavirus cases detected in Spain, the number of fatalities and the number of patients given the all-clear, is as follows:

Total cases in Spain: 2,002

Deaths: 47

Patients in intensive care: 126 

Recoveries: 135 (the figure is likely to rise significantly today)

Breakdown by region (note: the total may not add up to the officially confirmed national figure as some regions publish information in advance)

Madrid: 1,024 (31 deaths, 77 in intensive care, 109 recoveries)

Basque Country: 197 (6 deaths, 5 in intensive care)

La Rioja: 179 (2 deaths)

Catalunya: 125 (3 deaths)

Andalucía: 84 (1 in intensive care, 11 recoveries)

Comunidad Valenciana: 65 (1 death, 1 in intensive care, 1 recovery)

Castilla y León: 56 (2 in intensive care)

Aragón: 39 (3 deaths, 3 in intensive care)

Castilla-La Mancha: 39 (2 in intensive care, 2 recoveries)

Asturias: 32 (2 in intensive care)

Galicia: 27 (2 in intensive care)

Canaries: 25 (1 in intensive care, 5 recoveries)

Navarra: 22 (2 in intensive care)

Murcia: 17 

Balearics: 16 (1 in intensive care, 2 recoveries)

Cantabria: 12

Extremadura: 10

All of the 50 provinces of Spain have reported at least one case of the coronavirus except Lugo in Galicia, Palencia, Ávila and Soria (Castilla y León), Huesca (Aragón), Tarragona (Catalunya), Cuenca (Castilla-La Mancha), and Granada (Andalucía).

Announcing the latest data, spokesman Fernando Simón explained that the measures implemented in high-risk areas such as Madrid and La Rioja are already causing beneficial side effects. The number of people working from home has led to a noticeable decrease in traffic congestion, for example, but the effect on the incidence rate of the virus cannot be properly assessed until two weeks have passed.

Sr Simón also speculated that in the best of possible outcomes the epidemic in Spain could be over within one or two months, although on the other hand it could yet last for up to four months: in other words, until well into the summer. 

In the meantime, he called on the whole of Spanish society to collaborate in ensuring that the measures announced are properly implemented: "the country is not being blockaded, movement is not prohibited, all that is being asked for is responsible behaviour". 

Most important measures introduced by the national and regional governments

- Schools are closed for at least two weeks in the regions of Madrid and La Rioja and in and around the city of Vitoria in the Basque Country.

- All major sporting events across the country, both professional and amateur, are to be held without spectators.

- The government is to provide financial support for employees who are obliged to reduce their working hours in order to look after children unable to go to school.

- In Madrid, La Rioja and Vitoria a ban is in place on cultural and other events where over 1,000 spectators are expected.

- The State-funded “Imserso” holiday and travel scheme for pensioners has been suspended for at least a month.

- All direct flights from Italy to Spain have been cancelled until at least 25th March.

In the Region of Murcia

The latest information is that the number of SARS-CoV-2 cases detected in Murcia is 17, with no fatalities, no patients in intensive care and no patients given the all-clear as yet. 13 people are recovering at home with mild symptoms and 4 are hospitalised.

The regional government and health service have introduced various measures including the following:

- Hospital visiting is limited to one person per patient

- The regional government recommends that employees be allowed to work from home

- Various events including congresses, concerts, conferences and sporting events have been cancelled or postponed, and others may well suffer the same fate as the epidemic spreads.

- The arrival of a cruise ship from Italy in Cartagena on 18^th March has been cancelled.

Sensible precautions

The advice being issued to members of the public by medical authorities all over the world coincides on the following points:

- Wash hands frequently with either soap and water or a sanitiser gel.

- Catch coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues – and throw the tissues away immediately after use before immediately washing your hands!

- If you don’t have a tissue, use your sleeve – and wash the item of clothing used at the next opportunity.

- AVOID touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

- AVOID close contact with people who are unwell.

- Don´t panic!

- Those who suspect they may have contracted the coronavirus are urged NOT to visit A&E units or medical centres. Instead they should call either the 112 emergency services line or the 900 121212 number which has been set up to deal with the coronavirus in the Region: medical staff will go to their home to carry out the necessary tests and explain what further measures to take.

Symptoms

Symptoms generally start with a fever and tiredness, followed by a dry cough. After a week or so these lead to shortness of breath and some patients require hospital treatment.

Muscle pain and headaches can also accompany the early symptoms, along with nasal congestion, sore throat or diarrhoea: in short, they are not at all dissimilar to those associated with flu.

These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don't feel unwell. Most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing special treatment. Around 1 out of every 6 people who gets COVID-19 becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty breathing, this being most likely in older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes. (The WHO says that 81% will develop mild symptoms, 14% severe symptoms and only 5% will become critically ill). At the moment it is reported that between 1 and 2% of those infected are dying from the disease, although the exact figure is difficult to corroborate.

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